Exercise support device, exercise support method, and exercise support program

ABSTRACT

An exercise support device of the present invention includes a sensor section which obtains motion data related a user&#39;s body motion while exercising, and a data processing section which identifies whether the motion data obtained by the sensor section are related to first motion of swinging the right foot toward a traveling direction or related to second motion of swinging the left foot toward the traveling direction, and obtains, from the motion data, first exercise data related to the first motion and second exercise data related to the second motion. The data processing section analyzes the user&#39;s body motion based on comparison between the user&#39;s exercise form and the exercise status based on the first exercise data and the user&#39;s exercise form and the exercise status based on the second exercise data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-192714, filed Sep. 18, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise support device, an exercise support method and an exercise support, program. Specifically, the present invention relates to an exercise support device, an exercise support method, and an exercise support program by which the motion status (exercise status) of a human body at the time of exercise can be precisely grasped to be improved.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, because of rising health consciousness, more and more people are performing daily exercises, such as running, walking, and cycling, to maintain their wellness or improve their health condition. In addition, an increasing number of people are aiming to participate in a race such as a marathon race through these daily exercises.

These people are very conscious of and interested in measuring various biological and exercise information and recording the measurement result so as to grasp their own health conditions and exercise status. The people aiming to participate in a race have an objective of achieving a successful record in the race, and therefore are very conscious of and interested in efficient and effective training methods.

In order to fulfill these demands, various products and technologies have been developed as of now. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication No, 2010-264246 discloses a portable fitness monitoring device which provides various biological information and exercise information to the user while training. When using this portable fitness monitoring device, the user wears various sensors such as a heart rate meter, an accelerometer, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver so as to measure various performance parameters such as a heart rate while exercising, distance, speed, the number of footsteps, and calorie consumption, which are provided to the user as current information.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication No. 2006-110046 discloses a running-style learning device that is used by a track-and-field player for running practice. In this running-style learning device, acceleration and angular velocity in three axis directions of the running user are detected, and a result of comparison with a target value set in advance is provided to prompt the user to check and correct the running style per footstep.

Most of the people continuously performing exercise to maintain their healthy conditions, including those aiming to participate in a race or the like, do not have much opportunity to receive appropriate coaching from an instructor or the like with regard to their exercise methods, exercise form, etc. Also, it is very difficult for them to grasp their body balance at the time of exercise (for example, running) and judge whether the balance is appropriate, whereby they may continue exercise without maintaining their body balance. In this case, the exercise is not only inefficient but also may damage the body.

In the above-described devices and technologies, the biological information and exercise information of the user while exercising are detected and provided as they are to the user, or a result of the analysis of the information is provided to the user. That is, information useful for improving the user's form, way of using the body and the like while exercising is not provided.

When performing accurate image analysis or analytic diagnosis of an exercise form or the like, a large-scale and complex apparatus is required. However, this apparatus is available only in part of educational organizations, sports associations, and the like, and cannot be used by ordinary people other than top-level athletes.

As a device by which the user can easily observe his or her exercise form at the time of exercise such as running there is an imaging device that captures moving images and high-speed moving images which is sold at a relatively low price.

However, when using this imaging device, cooperation of a third party other than the user is required to capture moving images while exercising. Therefore, using this device in every daily exercise such as running is difficult. Also it takes time to analyze the captured moving images Therefore, feeding the imaging result, its analysis result, and the like back to the user while exercising on a real-time basis is also difficult,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has an advantageous effect in that an exercise support device, an exercise support method, and an exercise support program can be provided by which a user's form, way of using the body, and the like while exercising can be precisely and easily measured.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exercise support device comprising; a sensor section which obtains motion data related to a body motion of a user while exercising; and a data processing section which identifies whether the motion data obtained by the sensor section are related to first motion of the user swinging a right foot toward a traveling direction or related to second motion of the user swinging a left foot toward the traveling direction, and obtains, from the motion data, first exercise data related to the first motion and second exercise data related to the second motion.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exercise support method comprising: a step of obtaining motion data related to a body motion of a user while exercising; and a step of identifying whether the obtained motion data are related to first motion of the user swinging a right foot toward a traveling direction or related to second motion of the user swinging a left foot toward the traveling direction, and obtaining, from the motion data, first exercise data related to the first motion and second exercise data related to the second motion.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon an exercise support program that is executable by a computer, the program being executable by the computer to perform functions comprising: processing for obtaining motion data related to a body motion of a user while exercising; and processing for identifying whether the obtained motion data are related to first motion of the user swinging a right foot toward a traveling direction or related to second motion of the user swinging a left foot toward the traveling direction, and obtaining, from the motion data, first exercise data related to the first motion and second exercise data related to the second motion.

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic views of an exercise support device according to a first embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are functional block diagrams showing structural examples of the exercise support device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of three axis directions in an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor applied in the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of an exercise support method to be performed in the exercise support device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing processing for cutting out one cycle of running motions in the exercise support method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are first diagrams for describing processing for identifying the left or right foot at the time of running in the exercise support method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are second diagrams for describing the processing for identifying the left or right foot at the time of running in the exercise support method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a first graph of a specific example when processing for normalizing and averaging an exercise cycle is performed in the exercise support method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a second graph of the specific example when processing for normalizing and averaging an exercise cycle is performed in the exercise support method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a first graph of change to time progress in the average of maximum values of acceleration components in a vertical direction (x-axis direction) in the exercise support method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a first graph of change to time progress in the distribution of the maximum values of the acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) in the exercise support method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a second graph of change to time progress in the average of maximum values of acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) in the exercise support method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a second graph of change to time progress in the distribution of the maximum values of the acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) in the exercise support method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B and FIG. 14C are schematic diagrams showing an exercise support device according to a second embodiment the present invention;

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are functional block diagrams showing structural examples of a sensor device applied to the exercise support device according to the second embodiment

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram showing a structural example of a notifying device applied to the exercise support device according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an example of an exercise support method to be performed in the exercise support device according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram of an exercise support device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram showing a structural example of an information processing device applied to the exercise support device according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram showing a structural example of a network server applied to the exercise support device according to the third embodiment; and

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of an example of an exercise support method to be performed in the exercise support device according to the third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, an exercise support device, an exercise support method, and an exercise support program according to the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Note that, although embodiments described below are provided with, various technically-preferable limitations in order to carry out the present invention, these limitations are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the embodiments and examples shown in the drawings,

First Embodiment Exercise Support Device

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic views of an exercise support device according to a first embodiment the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a state where the exercise support device according to the present embodiment has been worn on the human body, and FIG. 1B is an external view of a structural example of a sensor device applied in the exercise support device according to the present embodiment

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are functional block diagrams showing structural examples of the exercise support device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a functional block diagram showing a structural example of the exercise support device according to the present embodiment and FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram showing another structural example of the exercise support device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of three axis directions in an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor applied in the present embodiment.

The exercise support device according to the first embodiment includes, for example, a chest-mount-type sensor device (hereinafter referred to as a “chest device” for convenience of explanation) 100 which is worn on the chest of a user US who is a measurement subject, as depicted in FIG. 1A.

The chest device 100 mainly includes, for example, a device body 101 that detects the exercise status and biological information of the user US and a belt section 102 that is wound around the chest of the user US so that the device body 101 is worn on the user US, as depicted in FIG. 1B.

In the present embodiment, this device body 101 including an acceleration sensor 110 and an angular velocity sensor 120 described below is preferably worn on or near the body axis (the center line of the body) of the upper body of the user US.

Specifically, the chest device 100 (device body 101) mainly includes, for example, the acceleration sensor (sensor section) 110, the angular velocity sensor (gyro sensor; sensor section) 120, an operation switch 130, a computing circuit (data processing section) 140, a memory 150, a notifying section (information providing section) 160, and an operating power supply 170, as depicted in FIG. 2A. The acceleration sensor 110 measures the ratio of change in motion speed (acceleration) of the user US while exercising.

In the present embodiment, the acceleration sensor 110, which has a three-axis acceleration sensor, detects acceleration components in three axis directions orthogonal to one another, and outputs the detection result as acceleration data.

Here, an axis extending in a vertical direction with respect to the running user US is defined as x axis, and a downward (ground direction) acceleration component is defined as being in + direction, as depicted in FIG. 3. This x axis substantially coincides with an extending direction of the body axis of the user US.

An axis extending in a lateral direction with respect to the user US is defined as y axis, and a leftward acceleration component is defined as being in + direction.

An axis extending in a front-back direction with respect to the user US is defined as z axis, and a forward (traveling direction) acceleration component is defined as being in + direction.

Acceleration data obtained by the acceleration sensor 110 is stored in the memory 150 described below in association with time data generated by the computing circuit 140 described below.

The angular velocity sensor 120 measures a change (angular velocity) in the motion direction of the user US while exercising.

In the present embodiment, the angular velocity sensor 120, which has a three-axis angular velocity sensor, detects angular velocity components that occur in the rotating direction of a rotating motion along each of three axes orthogonal to one another, and outputs the detection result as angular velocity data.

Here, an angular velocity component occurring in a clockwise direction with respect to + direction of the acceleration component of each of three x, y, z axes orthogonal to one another is defined as being in + direction, as depicted in FIG. 3. Here, the angular velocity component occurring in the rotating direction of x axis substantially coincides with an angular velocity occurring around the body axis of the user US.

Angular velocity data obtained by the angular velocity sensor 120 is stored in the memory 150 described below, in association with time data generated by the computing circuit 140 described below.

The operation switch 130 includes at least a power supply switch. By the user US operating the operation switch 130, driving power to be supplied from the operating power supply 170 to each section in the device body 101 is supplied or interrupted to control ON (start) and OFF (stop) of the power supply of the chest device 100.

Here, a structure may be adopted in which the operation switch 130 further includes a sensor control switch and the start or end of a sensing operation in the acceleration sensor 110 or the angular velocity sensor 120 is controlled by the user US operating the operation switch 130.

Note that a structure may be adopted in which the operation switch 130 only has the power supply switch, and a sensing operation in the acceleration sensor 110 or the angular velocity sensor 120 is started by the user US operating the operation switch 130 to turn ON (start)) the power supply of the device body 101, and ended by the user US operating the operation switch 130 to turn OFF (stop) the power supply of the device body 101.

The computing circuit 140 is a computing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Processing Unit) including a timing function, and performs processing in accordance with a predetermined control program based on a predetermined operation clock. As a result, the computing circuit 140 controls operations in the respective sections, such as a sensing operation by the acceleration sensor 110 and the angular velocity sensor 120, various data storing and reading operations on the memory 150, and a notifying operation by the notifying section 160, so as to achieve predetermined functions.

By performing processing in accordance with a predetermined algorithm program, the computing circuit 140 performs analysis processing regarding the exercise form and exercise status of the user US based on acceleration data obtained by the acceleration sensor 110 and angular velocity data obtained by the angular velocity sensor 120. Then, the computing circuit 140 performs processing for outputting a notification signal for controlling operations in the notifying section 160 in accordance with the analysis result.

Note that the control program and the algorithm program to be executed. In the computing circuit 140 may be stored in the memory 150 described below, or be incorporated into the computing circuit 140 in advance.

The memory 150, which includes a non-volatile memory, stores acceleration data obtained by the acceleration sensor 110 and angular velocity data obtained by the angular velocity sensor 120 in a predetermined storage area in association with time data.

Also, the memory 150 temporarily stores various data for use when processing is performed in accordance with the predetermined control program and algorithm program in the above-described computing circuit 140 or various data generated when processing is performed in accordance with these programs.

Moreover, the memory 150 stores, in a predetermined storage area, a result of analysis processing regarding an exercise form and an exercise status obtained by the above-described computing circuit 140 performing processing in accordance with the predetermined algorithm program.

Here, the memory 150 may include a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a flash memory, and may store the above-described predetermined control program or algorithm program.

Note that a non-volatile memory portion constituting the memory 150 may be partially or entirely in a form of a removable storage medium such as a memory card, and may be structured to be removable from the chest device 100.

The notifying section 160 has, for example, a vibrating section or an acoustic section, and generates predetermined vibration information or sound information based on a notification signal from the computing circuit 140 as exercise support information so as to notify the user US. Specifically, the vibrating section has a vibrating device (vibrator) such as a vibration motor or oscillator. By generating vibration information such as a predetermined vibration pattern or its magnitude, the notifying section 160 tactually provides or reports various information to the user US.

The acoustic section has an acoustic device such as a buzzer or loudspeaker. By generating sound information such as a predetermined timbre, sound pattern, or voice message, the acoustic section aurally provides or reports various information to the user US.

Note that the notifying section 160 may include both of the acoustic section and the vibrating section described above, or may include only one of the acoustic section and the vibrating section.

The operating power supply 170 supplies driving electric power to each section of the chest device 100 (device body 101). As the operating power supply 170, for example, a primary battery such as a commercially-available coin-shaped battery or button-shaped battery or a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal-hydride battery can be used.

In addition to these primary battery and secondary battery, it is possible to apply a power supply by an energy harvest technology for generating electricity by energy such as vibrations, light, heat, and electro-magnetic waves.

Note that the chest device 100 may include, in addition to the acceleration sensor 110 and the angular velocity sensor 120, other sensors such as a heartbeat sensor 180 and a GPS receiving circuit 185 as depicted in FIG. 2B.

Here, the heartbeat sensor 180 detects a change in a cardiac potential signal of the user US while exercising, and outputs the detection result as heartbeat data (biological information).

The heartbeat data obtained by the heartbeat sensor 180 is stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 150 in association with time data.

The GPS receiving circuit 185 detects the current position, altitude, and the like of the user US by receiving electric waves from a plurality of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, and outputs the detection result as GPS data (geographic information).

The GPS data obtained by the GPS receiving circuit 185 is stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 150 in association with time data.

These biological information and GPS data are used by the computing circuit 140 to detect a state where an abnormal exercise load has been exerted or used when relevance between the exercise form and the exercise status of the user US is analyzed. The details will be described further below.

(Exercise Support Method)

Next, an exercise support method for the exercise support device according to the present embodiment is described,

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of the exercise support method to be performed for the exercise support device according to the present embodiment

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing processing for cutting out one cycle of running motions in the exercise support method according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7B are diagrams for describing processing for identifying the left or right foot at the time of running in the exercise support method according to the present embodiment.

In the exercise support method according to the present embodiment, the user US first operates the operation switch 130 of the chest device 100 worn on the body to turn on and start the chest device 100, as depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 4 (Step S101).

Then, a sensing operation starts in the acceleration sensor 110 and the angular velocity sensor 120 of the chest device 100.

As a result, acceleration components and angular velocity components in the three axis directions while the exercise (running) of the user US are detected and collected as acceleration data and angular velocity data (hereinafter collectively referred to as “motion data”), and stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 150 at any time (Step S102).

Note that the sensing operation in the acceleration sensor 110 and the angular velocity sensor 120 herein is performed, for example, at a sampling frequency of 100 to 200 times per second (that is, 100 Hz to 200 Hz).

Next, based on the collected motion data, the computing circuit 140 performs processing in accordance with a predetermined algorithm program, and thereby performs analysis processing regarding the exercise form and the exercise status as follows (Step S103).

Specifically, the computing circuit 140 performs, for example, exercise cycle cutting out processing for cutting out one cycle as a basic running motion of running or the like from the collected motion data; left/right motion identification processing for identifying motion data for each cycle so as to judge which of left and right foot motions in the running motions the motion data are related to; and exercise status judgment processing for judging the quality of the user's way of running including the exercise form and the left-right balance in the series of running motions.

(1) Exercise Cycle Cutting-Out Processing

In general, in running motions in a running exercise, two steps of left and right legs from when a step of one foot is taken (takeoff of the left foot in the drawing) until when another step of the same foot is taken (takeoff of the left foot) via the landing of this foot (landing of the left foot) after the landing and takeoff of the other foot (landing and takeoff of the right foot) can be defined as one cycle (running cycle or exercise cycle), as depicted in an upper portion of FIG. 5.

On the other hand, in the series of running motions, acceleration components in a vertical direction (x-axis direction) in acceleration data obtained by the acceleration sensor 110 show a signal waveform that is cyclic for each step of the left and right legs, as depicted in a lower portion of FIG. 5.

That is, two cycles of acceleration components in the vertical direction correspond to one cycle (running cycle) in the running motions.

Accordingly, by a specific base point (which will be described below in descriptions of the left/right motion identification processing) being set based on the acceleration components in the vertical direction obtained by the acceleration sensor 110, motion data for each cycle (a period of a series of motions where the right foot and the left foot are alternately moved once, a motion cycle) can be stably cut out, and the time length of one cycle can be accurately measured.

A pitch which is an index generally used in running and the like indicates a footstep per minute. Therefore, by measuring the number of cycles per minute in a signal waveform of the acceleration components in the vertical direction depicted in the lower portion of FIG. 5, a current (or immediately-preceding) pitch can be calculated.

(2) Left/Right Motion Identification Processing

In the processing for cutting out one cycle in the running motions described above, only the acceleration components in the vertical direction are used. Thus, as for a motion for each step, it cannot be identified whether the signal waveform indicates a footstep when a motion of swinging the right foot forward is performed or indicates a footstep when a motion of swinging the left foot forward is performed.

Also, it is known that, when an exercise status, not limited to running motions, is being sensed by various sensors, various noises due to motions of muscles of the human body and vibrations transferred to the devices are mixed into motion data. This indicates that the above-described time of one cycle may not be able to be accurately measured.

Thus, in the present embodiment, processing for identifying whether motion data indicate emotion of swinging the left foot or indicates a motion of swinging the right foot in the running motions and processing for suppressing influences of various noises included in the motion data are simultaneously performed by use of a method depicted in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B.

By using FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, a method of setting timing as a base point of one cycle in the above-described exercise cycle cutting-out processing is described.

Here, the graph of FIG. 6A represents signal waveforms indicating acceleration components of the user US while exercising in the vertical direction (x-axis direction). The graph of FIG. 6B represents signal waveforms indicating angular velocity components occurring in the rotation direction of the x axis.

In FIG. 6A, a signal waveform SA1 represents acceleration components themselves (so-called raw data) in the x-axis direction detected by the acceleration sensor 110, and a signal waveform SA2 represents components obtained by filtering processing by a low-pass filter being performed on the signal waveform SA1 to diminish frequency components higher than a predetermined cutoff frequency.

Similarly, in FIG. 6B, a signal waveform SJ1 represents angular velocity components themselves (raw data) in the rotating direction of the x-axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 120, and a signal waveform SJ2 represents components obtained by filtering processing by a low-pass filter being performed on the signal waveform 531 to diminish frequency components higher than a predetermined cutoff frequency.

As depicted in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components in the x-axis direction detected by the acceleration sensor 110 and the signal waveform SJ1 of the angular velocity components regarding the x axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 120 both have portions in which the waveform is greatly changed (indicated by NA and NJ in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B; so-called shook waveforms) due to a shock when the foot of the running user US is landed, and the like.

These changes in waveform are signal components that are very useful in analyzing the exercise form (running form) and the exercise status.

However in the processing for cutting out one cycle (exercise cycle) in the running motions and the processing for distinguishing between the motion of the left foot and the motion of the right foot in the running motions described above, these changes in waveform serve as signal components which impair favorable processing, together with other noises.

Thus, in the present embodiment, strong filtering processing is performed on the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components in the x-axis direction and the signal waveform SJ1 of the angular velocity components regarding the x axis by using a low-pass filter where a cutoff frequency has been set at low.

As a result, high frequency components including the above-described shock waveforms are diminished from the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components and the signal waveform SJ1 of the angular velocity components, and signal waveforms SA2 and SJ2 where the shock waveforms have been smoothed are obtained, as depicted in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B.

Here, in the signal waveform SA2 of the acceleration components in the x axis direction obtained by the filtering processing described above, timing (indicated by P1 in the drawing) when the value of the acceleration is equal to or smaller than −1000 mG (=−1 G; equivalent to acceleration of gravity) approximately matches with landing timing when the foot of the user US lands the ground, as depicted in FIG. 6A.

As depicted in FIG. 6A, in the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components themselves in the x-axis direction detected by the acceleration sensor 110, the timing of a minimum value of the acceleration (the peak of an absolute value of the acceleration; indicated by P2 in the drawing) appearing after the timing of P1 in the above-described signal waveform SA2 approximately matches with maximum weight timing when the body weight is fully on the entire left or right foot of the user US.

In the present embodiment, the timing when the acceleration has the minimum value P2 is set as a base point (a starting and end point) in the processing for cutting out one cycle (exercise cycle) in the running motions described above.

As depicted in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, in the signal waveform SJ2 of the angular velocity components occurring in the rotating direction of the x axis obtained by the filtering processing described above, the polarity of an angular velocity (indicated by P3 in the drawing) at the same time as the timing of the minimum value P2 in the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components in the x-axis direction is detected.

Here, FIG. 1A depicts a general relation between running motions in a running exercise or the like and angular velocities of the chest of the human body.

That is, in a series of motions (first motion) where the left foot is swung down, landed, and kicks the ground, and then the right foot is swung forward to jump, the chest rotates in a clockwise direction (a + direction; positive).

On the other hand, in a series of motions (second motion) where the right foot is swung down, landed, and kicks the ground, and then the left foot is swung forward to jump, the chest rotates in a counterclockwise direction (a − direction; negative), as depicted in FIG. 7B.

That is, by detecting the polarity of an angular velocity occurring in the rotating direction of the x axis in a predetermined period including the timing when the entire weight is on the left or right foot, the rotating direction of the body while exercising can be found. Once the rotating direction of the body is found, it can be judged whether the landing foot is the right foot or the left foot.

In the motion data depicted in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the polarity of the angular velocity P3 at the same time as the timing of P2 in the signal waveform SJ2 of the angular velocity components occurring in the rotating direction of the x-axis direction is positive (+), which indicates that the upper body of the user US including the chest is rotating in the clockwise direction. Therefore, it is judged that the left foot has been landed on the ground and the right foot is about to be moved forward.

By setting a specific base point as described above, one cycle in running motions in a running exercise or the like can be accurately cut out, and the motions of the left and right feet can be appropriately judged.

The graphs depicted in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are merely examples of the acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) and the angular velocity components occurring in the rotating direction of the x axis obtained by the chest device 100 worn on the chest.

According to various verifications by the inventors, the acceleration components and the angular velocity components are greatly affected by the user's exercise form (running form) way of running, wearing position of the sensor device, and the like.

For example, when a sensor device is worn on the hip in place of the above-described chest device 100, a large phase difference from the angular velocity obtained by the chest device occurs, and the polarity of the signal waveform of the angular velocity components depicted in FIG. 6B may be reversed.

In this case, in the above-described left/right motion identification processing, the polarity serving as a reference for identifying whether the landing foot is the right foot or the left foot (the relation between running motions and angular velocities depicted in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B) may be reversed.

(3) Exercise Status Judgment Processing

Next, based on one cycle in the running motions cut out by the exercise cycle cutting-out processing and the motions of the left and right feet judged by the left/right motion identification processing described above, the quality of the exercise form and the presence or absence of a change in the exercise status of the user US are judged.

First, as described above, in the running motions in the running exercise, a series of motions depicted in FIG. 5 are formed of cyclic motions repeatedly performed as depicted in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B.

Here, in the running motions depicted in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, little changes included in a signal waveform of each footstep do not have great influences in judging the exercise form (running form).

Thus, in order to appropriately grasp a feature of the exercise form (running form), it is required to accurately cut out one cycle in the running motions described above and average the cyclic motions while exercising.

As a result, a tendency of relatively large changes in a signal waveform for each cycle can be grasped and, based on the average thereof the quality of the exercise form, a change in the exercise status, and the like can be judged.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in order to stably and precisely cut out one cycle irrespective of the shape of the signal waveform of the acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction), the processing for cutting out one cycle is performed by taking the timing of the minimum value P2 as a base point, which appears following the timing of P1 at which the value of the signal waveform SA2 of the acceleration components in the x-axis direction after the filtering processing is equal to or smaller than −1 G the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components in the x-axis direction, as depicted in FIG. 6A.

Here, in the graph depicted in FIG. 6A, the case has been described in which the timing of P2, which is a minimum value appearing first among minimum values of the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components which appear following the timing of P1 at which the value of the signal waveform SA2 of the acceleration components in the x-axis direction after the filtering processing is equal to or smaller than −1 G, is taken as a base point. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

That is, for example, in the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) depicted in FIG. 6A, the case has been described in which two downward peaks appear per footstep.

It has been found that the shape of the signal waveform including these peaks depends largely on the running form and the way of running of the user US who is a measurement target. That is, for example, one peak may appear per footstep, or three peaks may appear per footstep.

As such, one or plurality of downward peaks may appear per footstep in the acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction). Thus, the processing for cutting out one cycle may be performed by taking timing of a specific minimum value (for example, the second minimum value or the minimum value that appears last) as a base point among minimum values of the signal waveforms SA1 of the acceleration components appearing after the timing of P1 in the signal waveform SA2.

According to various verifications by the inventors, one cycle can be more stably and accurately cut out by performing processing for cutting out one cycle by taking the timing of a minimum value appearing last as a base point among minimum values of the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components appearing after the timing of P1 in the signal waveform SA2.

The time length of one cycle in the running motions cut out as described above based on the acceleration components in the x-axis direction has a slightly varied value for each cycle. Accordingly, normalization processing is performed in which the time lengths of the respective cycles are normalized to have the same time length (100 msec in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9). Then, processing for averaging the signal waveforms for the respective cycles subjected to the normalization processing is performed.

A specific example in which the normalization processing and the averaging processing have been performed on exercise cycles is depicted in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

FIG. 8 is a graph representing results obtained by cutting out one cycle in running motions as described above for acceleration components in three axis directions and angular velocity components occurring in the rotating direction of each axis when one downward peak appears per footstep in acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction), and by performing the normalization processing and the averaging processing.

FIG. 9 is a graph representing results obtained by cutting out one cycle in running motions for acceleration components in three axis directions and angular velocity components occurring in the rotating direction of each axis when two downward peaks appear per footstep in acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction), and by performing the normalization processing and the averaging processing.

Here, in the graphs depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 9, overwritten results obtained by normalizing signal waveforms for ten cycles in running motions are represented by fine lines, and an average of the signal waveforms is represented by a bold line.

As is evident from these graphs by the above-described series of processing, the signal waveforms of the respective cycles have small mutual fluctuations and can be cut out in a relatively stable state.

Thus by performing the normalization processing and the averaging processing on exercise cycles, a feature (a first analysis item) of the exercise form (running form) and the way of running including the tilt of the body (body axis), the degree of rotation, and the like when the user US is running at a constant speed can be clarified.

Here, in the normalization processing and the averaging processing on the exercise cycles in the running motions described above, when a value obtained by adding one cycle of a signal waveform difference of each cycle with respect to the average value of the exercise cycles exceeds a predetermined value set in advance, processing for excluding this cycle from targets for the averaging processing is performed.

As a result, motion data including an abnormal value can be excluded, and a feature of the intrinsic exercise form and the way of running of the user US can be more accurately grasped.

Also, in the normalization processing and the averaging processing on these exercise cycles in the running motions described above, processing for judging whether or not signal waveforms above or below the average value of the exercise cycles (or out of a predetermined range of the average value) have been sequentially detected is performed.

As a result, whether or not the exercise status such as the exercise form or the exercise speed (running speed) has been changed can be detected for each exercise cycle (a second analysis item).

In the left/right motion identification processing in the running motions described above, the current acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) is detected and stored in the memory 150, together with a result of judgment as to whether the signal waveform indicates the left foot or the right foot. Then, processing for analyzing the balance of force of kicking (kicking force) on the ground with the left or right foot in the running motions (a third analysis item) is performed.

Specifically, the acceleration components in the vertical direction at the time of the judgment as to whether the signal waveform indicates the left foot or the right foot is substantially proportional to the kicking force at the time of kicking on the ground with the judged foot in the running motions.

Accordingly, by calculating the average or distribution of acceleration components at predetermined time intervals (for example, ten seconds) and analyzing their changes to time progress, the left-right balance of kicking force in the running motions of the running exercise and changes in the balance can be clarified.

FIG. 10 to FIG. 13 depict specific examples of graphs of changes to time progress in the average and distribution of acceleration components in running motions of a running exercise calculated with subjects (runners) of different learning levels or training levels as targets.

FIG. 10 graphically depicts the averages of maximum values of acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) per ten seconds in motion data regarding running motions of a running exercise or the like collected with a trained or practiced subject as a target, with reference to elapsed time.

FIG. 11 graphically depicts the distribution of the maximum values of the acceleration components in the motion data collected with the above-described subject as a target, with reference to elapsed time

FIG. 12 graphically depicts the averages of maximum values of acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) per ten seconds in motion data regarding running motions collected with a untrained or unpracticed subject as a target, with reference to elapsed time.

FIG. 13 graphically depicts the distribution of the maximum values of the acceleration components in the motion data collected with the above-described subject as a target, with reference to elapsed time.

Here, in the graphs depicted in FIG. 10 to FIG. 13, the averages or distributions of vertical-directional (x-axis-directional) acceleration components of each of the left and right feet (first exercise data, second exercise data) identified by the left/right motion identification processing are indicated by fine lines with different thicknesses, and the averages or distributions of vertical-directional acceleration components of both feet are indicated by a bold line.

In the graph depicted in FIG. 10, by analyzing the maximum value averages of the acceleration in the vertical direction (x-axis direction), it can be found that a difference between the kicking forces of the left and right feet is increased with time by running motions being performed for a long period of time.

In the graph depicted in FIG. 11, by analyzing the maximum value distribution of the acceleration in the vertical direction, it can be found that fluctuations of the kicking forces of the left and right feet are extremely small in a relatively short time range.

From these, it can be found that the subject's (runner's) way of running itself is stable but the left and right feet tends to become unbalanced with time.

On the other hand, in the graph depicted in FIG. 12, by analyzing the maximum value averages of the acceleration in the vertical direction, it can be found that a difference between the kicking forces of the left and right feet is not increased with time even when running motions are performed for a long period of time, and these kicking forces are substantially equivalent to each other.

In the graph depicted in FIG. 13, by analyzing the maximum value distribution of the acceleration in the vertical direction, it can be found that fluctuations of the kicking forces of the left and right feet are consistently large throughout a relatively short time range.

From these, it can be found that the left and right feet are not unbalanced so much but the subject's way of running itself is unstable.

As such, in the above-described left/right motion identification processing for running motions, whether the motion data obtained while the running have been generated from the left foot or been generated from the right foot is judged and the change tendency in a long period of time is analyzed, whereby the feature of the exercise for (running form) and the change tendency of the way of running including the left-right balance can be identified.

In the above-described left/right motion identification processing for running motions, the acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) obtained while the running are subjected to filtering processing by a low-pass filter, and motions of the left and right feet are distinguished based on the polarity of the signal waveform SJ2 of the angular velocity components occurring in the rotating direction of the x axis at the same time as the timing at which the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components has the minimum value P2 after the timing (P1) at which the signal waveform SA2 is equal to or smaller than −1 G (acceleration of gravity).

This method is to address the fact that an exercise cycle (one cycle) is required to be accurately measured when changes in the user's exercise form and exercise status in each cycle of the running motions are analyzed in the above-described exercise status judgment processing.

Here, in the processing for judging the user's exercise form and exercise status in the running motions, if the analysis item does not require accurate measurement of the exercise cycle and, for example, the balance between kicking forces of the left and right feet in the running motions (the third analysis item) is to be analyzed, the following method can also be adopted.

That is, in the signal waveform SA1 of the acceleration components in the vertical direction (x-axis direction) depicted in FIG. 6A, timing is measured at which the acceleration components are changed to be increased (that is minimum value P2) after the acceleration components are decreased to exceed a predetermined value (for example, double the acceleration of gravity; −2 G=−2000 mG).

As a result, the maximum weight timing at which the body weight is fully on the left or right foot of the user US can be detected without influences of relatively small noises included in the x-axis-directional acceleration components themselves detected by the acceleration sensor 110.

In the signal waveform 531 of the angular velocity components occurring the rotating direction of the x axis depicted in FIG. 6B or the signal waveform SJ2 obtained by performing filtering processing on the signal waveform SJ1 the polarity of the angular velocity at the same time as the above-described timing is detected.

When the polarity is positive (+), it is identified that the left foot has been landed and the chest has been rotated in the clockwise direction. On the other hand, when the polarity is negative (−), it is identified that the right foot has been landed and the chest has been rotated in the counterclockwise direction.

In the present embodiment, in the structure where the chest device 100 includes sensors such as the heartbeat sensor 180 and the GPS receiving circuit 185 for detecting biological information and geographic information as depicted in FIG. 2B, the following analysis processing may be performed.

That is, for example, the computing circuit 140 performs processing for calculating a heart rate based on heartbeat data continuously measured by the heartbeat sensor 180 while running motions and analyzing relevance between the numerical values thereof and changes in the numerical values and the feature of the exercise form and the changes in the exercise status described above.

As a result, an exercise load which changes the exercise form and the way of running including left-right balance (that is, an exercise load which causes a left-right imbalance) can be judged.

Here, as with the graphs depicted in FIG. 10 to FIG. 13, changes to time progress in the biological information such as the measured heart rate may be graphically depicted.

Various data (analysis data) and the analysis result generated in the above-described analysis processing are stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 150 in association with one another or in an independent state.

Here, as the data to be stored in the memory 150, the analysis data and the analysis result generated in the above-described analysis processing are preferentially stored, and motion data itself (raw data) obtained by the acceleration sensor 110 and the angular velocity sensor 120 are deleted as needed, whereby the storage capacity for data storage can be reduced.

In particular, in the above-described analysis processing of the present embodiment, accelerations and angular velocities for a plurality of cycles are averaged and the exercise form and the feature of the way of running are judged based on the average. Therefore, large-capacity motion data itself are not required to be stored in the memory 150, and the storage capacity of the memory 150 can be reduced.

Then, in accordance with results of the various analysis processing described above, the computing circuit 140 generates and outputs a notification signal for notifying the user US of the analysis result at any time.

Here, the computing circuit 140 generates the notification signal for notifying the user US of the state (such as an abnormal state) when, for example, changes in the exercise form (running form) and the exercise status obtained from the various analysis processing described above exceed a range or a threshold set in advance to indicate a favorable state.

Next based on the notification signal outputted from the computing circuit 140, the notifying section 160 generates predetermined vibration information or sound information while exercising and notifies the user US of the above-described results of the various analysis processing (in particular, an abnormal state) as exercise support information (Step S104).

Accordingly, the exercise support information is tactually and aurally provided, whereby the user US can infallibly recognize changes, abnormality, and the like of the exercise form and the exercise status while exercising.

Next, the computing circuit 140 judges whether to end the series of processing described above (Step S105).

Specifically, the computing circuit 140 judges whether the user US has turned the power supply of the chest device 100 OFF or has performed an operation for stopping the sensing operation in the acceleration sensor 110 and the angular velocity sensor 120 (whether a device stop instruction has been provided).

When judged that a device stop instruction has not been provided, the computing circuit 140 returns to Step S102 to repeatedly perform the above-described exercise support method (Steps S102 to S104).

On the other hand, when judged that a device stop instruction has been provided, the computing circuit 140 ends the above-described exercise support method.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the single chest device 100 obtains motion data while exercising, and analyzes changes in the user's exercise form and exercise status. Then, when judged that the user US is in a specific state, the single chest device 100 provides the user US with exercise support information for notification of the current state substantially on a real-time basis.

Therefore, only by wearing the exercise support device having the simple structure, the user US can recognize changes, abnormality, and the like of the exercise form and the exercise status while exercising substantially on a real-time basis and can quickly correct the exercise form, the exercise status, and the like, and thereby can learn an exercise method (way of running) for keeping an appropriate form and status.

In the present embodiment, an analysis result based on motion data obtained while exercising is notified to the user US by the notifying section 160 substantially on a real-time basis. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

That is, the chest device 100 described in the present embodiment may further include an interface section for transferring various data to an external information processing device (for example, a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet terminal: not depicted in the drawings).

Accordingly, analysis data and an analysis result generated in the analysis processing based on motion data obtained while exercising and stored in the memory 150 may be transferred to an external information processing device via the above-described interface section after the end of the exercise, and may be displayed on a display section or the like of the information processing device as numerical value data or graphs such as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13.

In this case, from the chest device 100 to the external information processing device, the analysis data and the analysis result generated in the above-described analysis processing or only the analysis result is transferred, without including the motion data itself obtained while exercising. Thus, the time required for the data transfer can be significantly reduced.

As a result, the feature of the exercise form, the tendency of changes in the exercise status, and the like can be visually provided to the user US. Therefore, the user US can intuitively grasp his or her exercise form, way of running, and the like, and can effectively reflect the analysis result in future exercises.

The interface section included in the chest device 100 will be described in detail in a second embodiment.

Second Embodiment

Next, an exercise support device and an exercise support method according to the second embodiment of the present invention are described.

In the above-described first embodiment, the feature of an exercise form, changes in an exercise status, and the like are analyzed based on motion data of the user US obtained while exercising singly by the chest device 100 worn on the body and, when a specific state is detected, the user US is informed via the notifying section 160 provided in the chest device 100 on a real-time basis.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the chest device 100, a separate notifying device worn on the body is provided, and the result of the analysis of the feature of the exercise form, the changes in the exercise status, and the like is provided to the user US via this notifying device on a real-time basis

(Exercise Support Device)

FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B and FIG. 14C are schematic diagrams showing the exercise support device of the second embodiment according to the present invention.

Here, FIG. 14A is a schematic view of a state in which the exercise support device according to the present embodiment has been worn on the human body.

FIG. 14B is an external view of a structural example of a sensor device applied to the exercise support device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 14C is an external view of a structural example of a notifying device applied to the exercise support device according to the present embodiment

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are functional block diagrams showing structural examples of the sensor device applied to the exercise support device according to the present embodiment.

Here, FIG. 15A is a functional block diagram showing a structural example of the sensor device according to the present embodiment

FIG. 15B is a functional block diagram showing another structural example of the sensor device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram showing a structural example of the notifying device applied in the exercise support device according to the present embodiment.

Note that sections similar to those of the above-described first embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals and descriptions therefor are simplified.

The exercise support device according to the second embodiment includes, for example, the chest device 100 that is worn on the chest of the user US and a wristwatch-type or wristband-type notifying device (hereinafter referred to a “wrist device” for convenience of explanation) 200 that is worn on the wrist (forearm) or the like, as depicted in FIG. 14A.

The chest device 100 has an outer appearance equivalent to that of the above-described first embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 14B.

The wrist device 200 mainly includes, for example, a device body 201 which notifies the user US of at least an analysis result such as the feature of an exercise form and changes in an exercise status, and a belt section 202 that is wound around the wrist of the user US so that the device body 101 is worn on the user US, as depicted in FIG. 14C.

The chest device 100 has the same structure as that of the above-described first embodiment (refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B) except that the notifying section 160 is excluded and an interface section 190 is provided, as depicted in FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, for example.

Note that the chest device 100 may have a structure which is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment (refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B) but further includes the interface section 190.

Here, the acceleration sensor 110, the angular velocity sensor 120, the operation switch 130, the computing circuit 140, the memory 150, and the operating power supply 170 are equivalent to those of the above-described first embodiment, and therefore not described herein.

The interface section 190 functions as at least a communication interface when transmitting to the wrist device 200 a notification signal generated based on a result of processing executed by the computing circuit 140 for analyzing the exercise form and the exercise status of the user US which is.

The interface section 190 may transmit, in addition to the notification signal, analysis data and an analysis result generated in the above-described analysis processing and stored in the memory 150 (specifically, data required for graphical display depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13) to the wrist device 200.

As a method for transferring data, information, and the like between the chest device 100 and the wrist device 200 via the interface section 190, various wireless communication methods such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and WiFi (wireless fidelity (registered trademark)) and various wired communication methods via a communication cable such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable can be adopted.

The computing circuit 140 performs processing in accordance with a predetermined control program, and thereby controls an operation of transferring data in the interface section 190, in addition to various operations described in the first embodiment.

Specifically, the wrist device 200 mainly includes, for example, an operation switch 230, a computing circuit 240, a memory 250, a notifying section (information providing section) 260, an operating power supply 270, and an interface section 290, as depicted in FIG. 16.

The operation switch 230 may be a push-button-type switch provided protruding from a side surface of the device body 201 as depicted in FIG. 14C, or may be a touch-panel-type switch provided on the front surface side (visual field side) of a display section 262 provided as the notifying section 260 described below.

The operation switch 230 is used for various input operations, such as operation control when notifying a result of analysis processing performed in the chest device 100 and settings of items to be displayed on the display section 262.

The computing circuit 240, which is a computing device such as a CPU or MPU including a timing function, performs processing in accordance with a predetermined control program, and thereby controls operations in each section such as a notifying operation in the notifying section 260 described below and a data transfer operation in the interface section 290 described below so as to achieve a predetermined function.

The control program to be executed in the computing circuit 240 may be stored in the memory 250 described below, or may be incorporated into the computing circuit 240 in advance.

The memory 250, which has a non-volatile memory, stores at least a notification signal transmitted from the chest device 100 based on an analysis result in a predetermined storage area in association with time data generated by the computing circuit 240.

In addition to the above-described notification signal, the memory 250 may store analysis data and its analysis result generated in analysis processing and transmitted from the chest device 100 in a predetermined storage area in association with time data.

The memory 250 may store the above-described predetermined control program.

Note that a non-volatile memory portion constituting the memory 250 may be partially or entirely a removable storage medium such as a memory card so as to be removable from the wrist device 200.

The notifying section 260 includes, for example, the display section 262, a vibrating section 264, and an acoustic section 266, as depicted in FIG. 16.

The display section 262 has a display panel of, for example, a liquid-crystal type or light-emitting-element type. Based on at least a notification signal transmitted from the chest device 100, the display section 262 displays predetermined image information and character information and emits light-emitting information such as a predetermined light-emission color, light-emission pattern, or the like so as to visually notify the user US of exercise support information.

The display section 262 may display the analysis data and the analysis result transmitted from the chest device 100 as they are as numerical value data, or may display graphs such as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13.

Also, the display section 262 may display various information such as current time, running time, pitch, and lap time.

The vibrating section 264 and the acoustic section 266 have functions equivalent to those of the notifying section 160 of the chest device 100 in the above-described first embodiment and, by generating predetermined vibration information and sound information based on at least a notification signal transmitted from the chest device 100, tactually and aurally provide the user US with exercise support information.

Here, the exercise support information provided by the vibrating section 264 and the acoustic section 266 may be provided in conjunction with the display of the display section 262.

Note that the notifying section 260 may be structured to include at least one of the display section 262, the vibrating section 264, and the acoustic section 266.

The operating power supply 270 supplies driving electric power to each section in the device body 201 of the wrist device 200.

As the operating power supply 270, a known primary battery or secondary battery, or a power supply by an energy harvest technology or the like can be applied, as with the case of the above-described chest device 100.

The interface section 290 functions as at least a communication interface when receiving a notification signal transmitted from the chest device 100.

In addition to the notification signal, the interface section 290 may receive analysis data and an analysis result generated in analysis processing performed in the computing circuit 140 of the chest device 100.

(Exercise Support Method)

Next, the exercise support method in the exercise support device according to the present embodiment is described.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an example of the exercise support method to be performed in the exercise support device according to the present embodiment.

Here, procedures equivalent to those of the above-described first embodiment are simplified.

In the exercise support method according to the present embodiment, the user US first turns on and activate the chest device 100 and the wrist device 200 worn on the body (Step S201), as depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 17.

As a result, synchronization of an operation clock and the like are performed between the chest device 100 and the wrist device 200.

Then, a sensing operation starts in the acceleration sensor 110 and the angular velocity sensor 120 of the chest device 100. As a result, motion data of the user US while exercising (while running) are collected, and stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 150 at any time (Step S202).

Next, as with the above-described first embodiment, the computing circuit 140 performs various analysis processing including exercise cycle cutting-out processing, left/right motion identification processing, and exercise status judgment processing (Step S203).

As a result, a notification signal for notifying the user US of an analysis result is generated according to the result of various analysis processing described above.

Specifically, for example, when the exercise form (running form) and changes in the exercise status obtained from the various analysis processing deviate from a favorable state set in advance, a notification signal for notifying the user US of the current state (such as an abnormal state) is generated.

Next, the generated notification signal is transferred from the chest device 100 to the wrist device 200 at any time via the interface section 190 by, for example, a wireless communication system (Step S204).

Then, based on the notification signal transmitted from the chest device 100, the wrist device 200 generates predetermined display, vibrations, or sound from the notifying section 260 while exercising, and thereby notifies the user US of the result of the various analysis processing (in particular, an abnormal state) as exercise support information (Step S205).

As a result, the exercise support information is visually, tactually, and aurally provided to the user US. Therefore, the user US can infallibly recognize changes, abnormality, and the like of the exercise form and the exercise status while exercising.

Next, the computing circuit 140 judges whether to end the series of processing described above. When judged that the processing is not to be ended, the computing circuit 140 returns to Step S202 and repeatedly performs the series of exercise support method (Steps S202 to S205). When judged that the processing is to be ended, the computing circuit 140 ends the exercise support method.

As described above, in the present embodiment, motion data while exercising are obtained by the chest device 100 worn on the chest of the user US, and changes in the user's exercise form and the exercise status are analyzed. Then, when it is judged that the user US is in a specific state, a notification signal for notifying this state is transmitted at any time to the wrist device 200 worn on a wrist of the user US.

Subsequently, exercise support information based on the notification signal received by the wrist device 200 is provided to the user US substantially on a real-time basis.

Accordingly, from the exercise support information provided from the wrist device 200 worn on the wrist, the user US can recognize changes, abnormality, and the like of the exercise form and the exercise status while exercising substantially on a real-time basis and can quickly correct the exercise form, the exercise status, and the like. As a result, the user US can learn an exercise method (way of running) for keeping an appropriate form and state.

In this case, from the chest device 100 to the wrist device 200, only the notification signal generated based on the analysis result described above is transmitted, without including the motion data and the like obtained while exercising. Therefore, electric power required for the data transmission can be significantly reduced. As a result, the exercise support device (the chest device 100 and the wrist device 200) can be driven for a long period of time.

In the present embodiment a notification signal generated in accordance with an analysis result based on motion data obtained by the chest device 100 while exercising is transmitted to the wrist device 200 at any time, and the user US is notified of the notification signal as exercise support information substantially on a real-time basis. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

That is, a configuration may be adopted in which the exercise support device of the present embodiment transmits analysis data and an analysis result acquired in analysis processing based on motion data obtained by the chest device 100 while exercising to the wrist device 200 at any time, and displays the analysis data and the analysis result on the display section 262 of the wrist device 200 as numerical value data or graphs such as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13.

As a result, the feature of the exercise form, the tendency of changes in the exercise status, and the like can be visually provided to the user US substantially on a real-time basis, whereby the user US can intuitively grasp his or her exercise form, way of running, and the like, and can quickly reflect the analysis result in the current exercise.

Also, in the present embodiment, an analysis result based on motion data obtained by the chest device 100 while exercising is notified to the user US by the wrist device 200 substantially on a real-time basis. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

That is, a configuration may be adopted in which, as with the above-described first embodiment, analysis data and an analysis result generated in analysis processing based on motion data obtained by the chest device 100 while exercising and stored in the memory 150 are transmitted to an external information processing device (for example, a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet terminal; not depicted in the drawings) via the interface section 190 after the end of the exercise, and displayed on a display section or the like of the information processing device as numerical value data or graphs such as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13.

As a result, the user US can intuitively grasp his or her exercise form, way of running, and the like and can effectively reflect the analysis result in future exercises.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the wrist device 200 worn on a wrist of the user US is used as a notifying device for notifying the user US of an analysis result and its notification signal based on motion data obtained by the chest device 100 while exercising. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

That is, the notifying device applicable to the present embodiment can be any device as long as it can visually, tactually, and aurally provide an analysis result as exercise support information via a human sense. Therefore, as the notifying device, various types of devices can be adopted such as an earphone type device that is worn on an ear, a necklace type device that is worn on a neck, or a sport-glass type device. Also, this device may be included in a smartphone and worn on an upper arm.

Third Embodiment

Next, an exercise support device and an exercise support method according to a third embodiment of the present invention are described.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, analysis processing regarding an exercise form and an exercise status is performed based on motion data of the user US obtained by the chest device 100 while exercising.

In the third embodiment motion data obtained by the chest device 100 are transferred to an external information processing device and analysis processing regarding an exercise form and an exercise status is performed in the external information processing device.

(Exercise Support Device)

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram showing the exercise support device of the third embodiment according to the present invention.

Fits 19 is a functional block diagram showing a structural example of an information processing device applied to the exercise support device according to the present embodiment

FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram showing a structural example of a network server applied to the exercise support device according to the present embodiment.

Note that sections similar to those of the above-described first and second embodiments are provided with the same or equivalent reference numerals, and descriptions therefor are simplified.

The exercise support device according to the third embodiment includes, for example, the chest device 100, an information processing device 300, a network 400, a network server 500, and a user terminal 700, as depicted in FIG. 18.

Here, the chest device 100 has a function for storing motion data obtained while exercising in the memory 150 at any time as with the configuration described in the above-described first and second embodiments, and a function for performing data transfer with the information processing device 300 outside the chest device 100.

That is, the chest device 100 does not have the function described in the first and second embodiments which is required for performing analysis processing regarding the exercise form and the exercise status of the user US based on motion data obtained while exercising.

The information processing device 300 is an electronic device which transmits various data at least from the chest device 100, via a wireless communication or wired communication system or a memory card or the like.

The information processing device 300 includes a function for connection to the network 400 and a web browser function as described below.

As the information processing device 300, general-purpose devices such as notebook-type or desktop-type personal computers 301 and 304, a smartphone 302, a tablet terminal 303 or dedicated devices (omitted in the drawings) are adopted, as depicted in FIG. 18.

In the present embodiment, the information processing device 300 can be applied as the user terminal 700 described below.

Specifically, the information processing device 300 mainly includes, for example, an input operating section 330, a computing circuit 340, a memory 350, a display section 360, an operating power supply 370, and an interface section 390, as depicted in FIG. 19.

The input operating section 330 is an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, or a touch panel provided to the personal computers 301 and 304, the smartphone 302, the tablet terminal 303, and the like.

This input operating section 330 is used to select an icon or menu displayed on the display section 360 or to indicate a point on a screen display, whereby a function corresponding to the icon, the menu, or the point is performed.

The computing circuit 340, which is a computing device having a timing function, performs processing in accordance with a predetermined control program, and thereby controls operations in the respective sections, such as an operation of displaying various information on the display section 360 and an operation of transmitting data in the interface section 390.

The control program to be executed in the computing circuit 340 may be stored in the memory 350 described below, or be incorporated into the computing circuit 340 in advance. The memory 350 temporarily stores motion data received via the interface section 390 in a predetermined storage area.

In a configuration where the information processing device 300 is used as the user terminal 700 for viewing an analysis result of the exercise form and the exercise status of the user US subjected to analysis processing in the network server 500, the memory 350 stores analysis information received via the network 400 in a predetermined storage area.

This memory 350 may be partially or entirely a removable storage medium so as to be removable from the information processing device 300, as with the above-described chest device 100 and wrist device 200.

The display section 360 has a display panel of for example, a liquid-crystal type or light-emitting-element type, and displays a communication status and a transfer condition when at least motion data received from the chest device 100 is transferred to the network server 500 via the network 400 described below.

In the configuration where the information processing device 300 is applied as the user terminal 700, the above-described motion data and its analysis data are displayed on the display section (information providing section) 360 as they are as numerical value data or as graphs such as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13.

The operating power supply 370 supplies driving electric power to each section of the information processing device 300.

In a portable electronic device (mobile device) such as the smartphone 302 or the tablet terminal 303, a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery is adopted as the operating power supply 370.

In the notebook-type personal computers 301 and 304, a secondary battery or a commercial-alternating current power supply is applied.

In a desktop-type personal computer, a commercial alternating current power supply is applied.

The interface section 390 functions as an interface when receiving motion data obtained by the chest device 100 from the chest device 100.

The interface section 390 has a function for connection to the network. 400 such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network).

The network 400 is a computer network where motion data and analysis information can be transmitted and received between the information processing device 300 and the network server 500.

Here, the network 400 may be a publicly-usable network such as the Internet, or a network that is limitedly usable by a specific group such as a business enterprise, an organization specific to an area, or an educational organization.

The network server 500 is connected to the information processing device 300 via the network 400 described above. This network server 500 is an application server having a function for performing at least analysis processing regarding the exercise form and the exercise status of the user US described in the first or second embodiment, based on motion data obtained while exercising and transferred from the information processing device 300.

Specifically, the network server 500 mainly includes, for example, an input operating section 530, a computing circuit (data processing section) 540, a memory 550, a display section 560, an operating power supply 570, an interface section 590, and a database 600, as depicted in FIG. 20.

Here, the input operating section 530, the display section 560, and the operating power supply 570 have functions equivalent to those of the input operating section 330, the display section 360, and the operating power supply 370 of the information processing device 300 described above, and therefore are not described herein.

The database 600 may be incorporated in the network server 500, may be externally provided to the network server 500, or may be directly connected to the network 400.

The computing circuit 540 and the memory 550 have functions equivalent to those of the computing circuit 140 and the memory 150 in the above-described first and second embodiments.

That is, the computing circuit 540, which is a computing device having a timing function, performs processing in accordance with a predetermined control program, and thereby controls operations in the respective sections such as operations of storing and reading motion data, analysis data, an analysis result, and the like in the memory 550 or the database 600, an operation of displaying various information on the display section 560, and an operation of transmitting data in the interface section 590.

This computing circuit 540 performs processing in accordance with a predetermined algorithm program, and thereby performs the analysis processing regarding the exercise form and the exercise status of the user US described in the first and second embodiments, based on motion data received via the interface section 590.

Analysis data and an analysis result generated by this analysis processing are stored in, for example, a predetermined storage area of the database 600.

By the user US using the user terminal 700 to access the network server 500, the computing circuit 540 accordingly reads out analysis data and an analysis result requested by the user US from the database 600, and generates web display data for displaying them in a display format using numerical values, graphs, and the like on the web browser of the user terminal 700.

Then, the web display data is transmitted as analysis information to the user US terminal 700 via the network 400.

Note that the control program and the algorithm program to be executed in the computing circuit 540 may be stored in the memory 550, or be incorporated into the computing circuit 540 in advance.

The memory 550 is used when processing is performed in the above-described computing circuit 540 in accordance with a predetermined control program or algorithm program, or temporally stores various data generated when processing is performed in accordance with the program.

The interface section 590 functions as an interface when motion data transferred from the above-described information processing device 300 are received or analysis information including an analysis result of the exercise form and the exercise status of the user US obtained by analysis processing in the network server 500 is transmitted to the user terminal 700.

The user terminal 700 is an electronic device having a structure equivalent to that of the above-described information processing device 300 (refer to FIG. 19).

By the user US accessing the network server 500, the user terminal 700 receives web display data generated in the network server 500 via the network 400 and causes the data to be displayed by a web browser.

As a result, analysis data and an analysis result generated in analysis processing based on motion data obtained while exercising are displayed on the display section as numerical value data or graphs such, as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13.

Note that, as the user terminal 700, the information processing device 300 which is used for transmitting motion data to the network server 500 may be applied as it is or an electronic device having a network connecting function different from the information processing device 300 may be applied.

(Exercise Support Method)

Next, the exercise support method for the exercise support device according to the present embodiment is described.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of an example of the exercise support method to be performed for the exercise support device according to the present embodiment.

Here, procedures equivalent to those of the above-described first and second embodiments are simplified.

In the exercise support method according to the present embodiment, the user US first turns on and activates the chest device 100 worn on the body (Step S301), as depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 21.

Next, the user US starts exercise (Step S302) Simultaneously with the start of this exercise, or before or after the start of this exercise, a sensing operation starts in the chest device 100, and motion data of the user US while exercising are collected and stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 150 (Step S303).

This motion data collection continues until the user US ends the sensing operation in the chest device 100 simultaneously with the end of the exercise or before or after the end of the exercise (Step S304).

Next, the motion data stored in the memory 150 of the chest device 100 are transmitted to the information processing device 300 via a wireless communication system or wired communication system or a memory card or the like, and the information processing device 300 transfers the motion data to the network server 500 via the network 400 (Step S305).

The motion data (transfer data) transferred to the network server 500 are stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 550.

Next, in the network server 500, the computing circuit 540 performs various analysis processing including exercise cycle cutting-out processing, left/right motion identification processing, and exercise status judgment processing based on the motion data stored in the memory 550 (Step S306), as with the above-described first and second embodiments.

As a result, the feature of the user's exercise form, changes in the exercise status, and the like are analyzed, and the analysis data and the analysis result generated in the analysis processing are stored in a predetermined storage area of the database 600.

Next, the user US operates the information processing device 300 or the user terminal 700 to access the network server 500 via the network 400.

Then, by the user US performing an operation for requesting the display of arbitrary analysis information, the computing circuit 540 of the network server 500 reads out the analysis data and the analysis result stored in the database 600, and generates web display data having a predetermined display format in accordance with the request.

Subsequently, the interface section 590 transmits the generated web display data to the information processing device 300 or the user terminal 700 as analysis information, via the network 400.

Then, the analysis information transmitted to the information processing device 300 or the user terminal 700 is displayed on the display section 360 as numerical value data or graphs such as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13 by use of a web browser (Step S307).

Here, in the configuration where graphs such as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13 are displayed on the display section 360 of the information processing device 300 or the user terminal 700, the graphs of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 representing the features of acceleration and angular velocity for a short period of time (one cycle) and the graphs of FIG. 10 to FIG. 13 representing the tendencies of changes of acceleration for a long period time may be associated with each other based on time data so as to be switchable and displayed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, motion data while exercising are collected by the chest device 100 worn on the chest of the user US, and transferred by the information processing device 300 to the network server 500 via the network 400 after the end of the exercise. In the network server 500, analysis processing regarding the user's exercise form and the exercise status is performed.

Then, by the user US using the information processing device 300 or the user US terminal 700 to access the network server 500, the analysis data and the analysis result generated by the analysis processing are transmitted from the network server 500 as analysis information, and displayed on the display section 360 of the information processing device 300 or the user US terminal 700 as numerical value data or graphs such as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13.

As a result, the feature of the exercise form, the tendency of changes of the exercise status, and the like can be visually provided to the user US. Accordingly, the user US can intuitively grasp his or her exercise form, way of running, and the like, and can effectively reflect the analysis result in future exercises.

Note that the information processing device 300 of the present embodiment only requires a function for transferring motion data to the network server 500 and a function for displaying analysis information by a web browser.

Therefore, as the information processing device 300, even an electronic device with a relatively low computing processing capability and a relatively small memory storage capacity can be favorably adopted, by which the exercise support device according to the present invention can be inexpensively and easily structured.

Also, in the present embodiment, the network server 500 performs analysis processing regarding the user's exercise form and the exercise status.

Accordingly, by the algorithm program regarding the analysis processing being updated at any time in the network server 500, the analysis processing can be always performed with the latest method and the feature of an exercise form, the tendency of changes in an exercise status, and the like can be precisely analyzed.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, motion data transferred from the chest device 100 and analysis data and an analysis result generated by analysis processing are stored in the memory 550 of the network server 500 and/or the database 600.

Accordingly, by the storage capacity of the memory 550 and/or the database 600 being increased as needed, even a large amount of motion data, analysis data, and the like can be reliably stored, and appropriate analysis information can be provided to the user US.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, motion data obtained by the chest device 100 are transferred by the information processing device 300 to the network server 500 via the network 400 and the network server 500 performs analysis processing regarding the user's exercise form and the exercise status.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the information processing device 300 provided outside the chest device 100 may perform the analysis processing regarding the user's exercise form and the exercise status.

In this configuration, the information processing device 300 has a function for performing the analysis processing regarding the user's exercise form and the exercise status by the computing circuit (data processing section) 340 performing processing in accordance with a predetermined algorithm program. Accordingly, the information processing device 300 is not required to have a function for connection to the network 400.

Therefore, even when the information processing device 300 is in an environment where it is impossible (or difficult) to establish connection to the network 400, the analysis processing regarding the user's exercise form and the exercise status can be favorably performed, and the analysis data and the analysis result can be displayed on the display section 360 as numerical value data or graphs such as those depicted in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13.

As a result, the feature of the exercise form, the tendency of changes of the exercise status, and the like can be visually provided to the user US, whereby the user US can intuitively grasp his or her exercise form, way of running, and the like, and effectively reflect the analysis result in future exercises.

Still further in the above descriptions of each embodiment, the chest device worn on the chest has been described as an example of a sensor device applied to the exercise support device. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sensor device may be any device as long as it can be worn on the body axis of the hip, neck, or the like or its nearby portion.

Yet still further, in the above descriptions of each embodiment, running has been described as an example of exercise for which the present invention is used. However the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be used for various exercises where cyclic motions such as walking are performed.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is intended that the invention be not limited by any of the details of the description therein but includes all the embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise support device comprising: a sensor section which obtains motion data related to a body motion of a user while exercising; and a data processing section which identifies whether the motion data obtained by the sensor section are related to first motion of the user swinging a right foot toward a traveling direction or related to second motion of the user swinging a left foot toward the traveling direction, and obtains, from the motion data, first exercise data related to the first motion and second exercise data related to the second motion.
 2. The exercise support device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor section obtains, as the motion data, acceleration data corresponding to acceleration in an extending direction of a body axis of the user and angular velocity data corresponding to angular velocity of a rotating motion along the body axis in a rotating direction, and wherein the data processing section identifies whether the motion data are related to the first motion or related to the second motion, based on a value of the acceleration data and polarity of a value of the angular velocity data at specific timing.
 3. The exercise support device according to claim 2, wherein the data processing section sets, as the specific timing, timing at which the value of the acceleration data indicates a predetermined change corresponding to a motion of the user landing with one of the right foot and the left foot with respect to time.
 4. The exercise support device according to claim 1, wherein the data processing section obtains changes to time progress of an exercise form and an exercise status of the user corresponding to the first motion and changes to time progress of an exercise form and an exercise status of the user corresponding to the second motion, based on the obtained first exercise data and the obtained second exercise data; and analyzes the body motion of the user based on comparison between the changes to time progress of the exercise form and the exercise status corresponding to the first motion and the changes to time progress of the exercise form and the exercise status corresponding to the second motion.
 5. The exercise support device according to claim 1, wherein the data processing section measures a plurality of exercise cycles corresponding to cycles of motions of the left foot and the right foot of the user in the motion data, and detects changes in an exercise form and an exercise status of the user based on comparison of a value of the motion data for each of the exercise cycles.
 6. The exercise support device according to claim 5, wherein the data processing section performs normalization processing for correcting a time length of each of the plurality of exercise cycles to an equal time length, and detects changes in the exercise form and the exercise status based on comparison of the value of the motion data for each of the exercise cycles whose time lengths have been corrected by the normalization processing.
 7. The exercise support device according to claim 1, further comprising: an information providing section which provides the user with exercise support information for supporting a way of moving a body while exercising, wherein the data processing section judges, based on the motion data, whether or not an exercise form and an exercise status of the user are each in a specific state set in advance, and generates a notification signal in accordance with a judgment result, and wherein the information providing section provides predetermined notification information based on the notification signal as the exercise support information.
 8. The exercise support device according to claim 7, wherein the information providing section visually, tactually, or aurally provides the user with the exercise support information.
 9. The exercise support device according to claim 7, wherein the data processing section analyzes changes in the exercise form and the exercise status while exercising, and wherein the information providing section provides the exercise support information to the user while exercising.
 10. The exercise support device according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage section which stores the motion data obtained by the sensor section at any time, wherein the data processing section analyzes the body motion of the user after the exercise is ended, based on the motion data stored in the storage section.
 11. The exercise support device according to claim 10, further comprising: an information providing section which provides the user with exercise support information for supporting a way of moving a body while exercising, wherein the sensor section, the storage section, the data processing section, and the information providing section are directly or indirectly connected to a network, respectively, wherein the data processing section receives the motion data stored in the storage section via the network, and analyzes the way of moving the body of the user based on the received motion data, and wherein the information providing section receives a result of analysis by the data processing section via the network, and provides the user with the exercise support information based on the received analysis result.
 12. An exercise support method comprising: a step of obtaining motion data related to a body motion of a user while exercising; and a step of identifying whether the obtained motion data are related to first motion of the user swinging a right foot toward a traveling direction or related to second motion of the user swinging a left foot toward the traveling direction, and obtaining, from the motion data, first exercise data related to the first motion and second exercise data related to the second motion.
 13. The exercise support method according to claim 12, wherein acceleration data corresponding to acceleration in an extending direction of a body axis of the user and angular velocity data corresponding to angular velocity of a rotating motion along the body axis in a rotating direction are obtained as the motion data, and wherein whether the motion data are related to the first motion or related to the second motion is identified based on a value of the acceleration data and polarity of a value of the angular velocity data at specific timing.
 14. The exercise support method according to claim 13, wherein timing at which the value of the acceleration data indicates a predetermined change corresponding to a motion of the user landing with one of the right foot and the left foot with respect to time is set as the specific timing.
 15. The exercise support method according to claim 12, wherein changes to time progress of an exercise form and an exercise status of the user corresponding to the first motion and changes to time progress of an exercise form and an exercise status of the user corresponding to the second motion are obtained based on the obtained first exercise data and the obtained second exercise data, and wherein the body motion of the user is analyzed based on comparison between the changes to time progress of the exercise form and the exercise status corresponding to the first motion and the changes to time progress of the exercise form and the exercise status corresponding to the second motion.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon an exercise support program that is executable by a computer, the program being executable by the computer to perform functions comprising: processing for obtaining motion data related to a body motion of a user while exercising; and processing for identifying whether the obtained motion data are related to first motion of the user swinging a right foot toward a traveling direction or related to second motion of the user swinging a left foot toward the traveling direction, and obtaining, from the motion data, first exercise data related to the first motion and second exercise data related to the second motion. 